The Villain's Retirement-Chapter 41: Dance (1)

The girls came in waves. But unlike earlier, this time, they didn’t introduce themselves, and simply looked at him.

Whispers rippled through the small circle of frustrated suitors. One of them, a lord barely older than Ard, pressed his lips together and muttered under his breath, "Almost half of the hall is waiting on him...damn him."

Another, cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and irritation, added, "It’s absurd... he dares to take his time too!"

A third, voice tight with barely restrained jealousy, sneered, "Look at him... standing there like a king. How dare he make us wait while he decides which one to choose?"

"How could a commoner!"

"Does he enjoy this?" one muttered bitterly, gesturing at the waiting ladies.

Their anger grew with every heartbeat. Some had been refused outright earlier, and now seeing him take a while to choose felt like a fresh insult.

Just then, breaking the quiet tension, one of the women suddenly stepped forward, and squeezed herself between them.

Worse, she didn’t stop and continued walking but finally stopped before the young man as her emerald eyes met his crimson eyes directly. In Ard’s eyes, unlike the other women, this girl’s eyes looked like a cold person to the point it looked like he had done her wrong in the past. Yet she went closer.

"My lord," she said, voice clear and steady, "would you honor me with this dance?"

The hall froze for a heartbeat. The other noblewomen blinked, shock spreading across their faces and their mouths opened so wide. Ard’s crimson eyes lifted from the line. He looked at the maid for clarification but the maid had left.

’...—’

Then, to everyone’s expectations, the girl touched his hands and while intrusive, she gently led him to the dance hall on her own. At the same time, a faint surge of mana so slight it was nearly imperceptible flowed within her fingers. As though she knows what Ard was thinking, she let out a brief but teasing smile through her eyes.

"Surprised?" she asked, seemingly pleased, and then withdrew her mana. It was clear she had only done it deliberately to catch his attention.

Meanwhile, the noblewomen were all stunned. None had dared approach a woman like this to dance ever in their lives. Not in decades of training, etiquette, and anticipation.

"That brute!" One said with a scorn.

When they reached the center, the girl made the initiative and inched closer that the heavy scent of jasmine invaded his nostrils. Seeing that Ard didn’t seem to react at her despite everyone already starting to dance, she guided Ard’s arms onto her waist herself and placed her hands on his shoulders, noticing her head was level with Ard’s neck.

Right then, the music bloomed to an even softer tone.

"You’re very handsome, Baron. Have you had a lover?" she then whispered, her eyes locked onto the young man, finding her quite taller than expected.

He met her gaze without any issue, making her impressed.

"No." He said. "And I don’t know how to dance."

At his words and noticing he did seem simply was following her, a smile bloomed on her face. ’He really was a commoner.’ She thought, realizing almost all nobles except probably bastards were taught how to dance at a very young age.

"Oh forgive me," she said and started leading the dance, "Just sway like you are doing and follow me. Please do not step on my dress or my feet. It will hurt. Look at what the others are doing."

Ard nodded and glanced around, watching the couples twirl and step in rhythm. He mirrored their movements, matching foot to foot, turn to turn.

Seeing this, a bigger smile bloomed on the girl’s face, as if she was looking at an adorable baby. Then she discreetly gazed at the other girls who were staring daggers at her.

Throughout the evening, they had been talking about the new baron and while he seemed naïve and too conceited. They knew he couldn’t refuse the dance especially with the Duke and Duchess watching.

But more than that, they were captivated. Ard de Salience was a young man, still in his prime, as most would say. He wasn’t the scarred veteran, nor a grizzled hero who looked like he only lived in the wild. He was a great son-in-law candidate.

While dancing, Elara’s gaze flicked to the other noblewomen still lingering on the sidelines while they were being asked by others one by one.

’...Huh—?’

Just then, Elara felt it.

Each sway, each step, seemed to fall into place as if Ard’s body remembered the motions without effort. To his surprise, it came naturally—almost too easily. The patterns repeated, and after just a few seconds, he only needed a brief glance at the others to adjust, his confidence growing with every beat.

’So it’s that easy. This is too boring.’ He immediately concluded.

Elara however was shocked.

’Huh? He hasn’t even stepped on my dress yet. Not one time. Does he really not know how to dance?’ Elara thought, not noticing her movements slowed down, causing her to mess up.

Ard noticed the slight stumble in her step, the almost imperceptible hesitation. He leaned in just a fraction closer, voice low and calm.

"Are you alright?" he asked, crimson eyes locking onto hers.

Elara froze. Without knowing, her heart skipped a beat.

"No, it’s okay." She calmed herself down and continued. ’What am I doing?’ She tugged at her composure, mentally scolding herself. Yet, as they continued, she started to believe anyone would have felt the same. At the moment, his broad shoulders felt like the perfect anchor beneath her palms. She couldn’t help but admire the solid frame, the strength in his arms as they guided her. He was tall, taller than she had imagined, and his ruby-red eyes—framed by long, thick lashes—seemed to look right through her.

’How can he look so calm... when everyone seems to be looking at him?’ she marveled, a thrill running through her chest. The feeling that it was her who was dancing there with him filled her with some silly pride. But then she shut her emotions down as if remembering what she there for in the first place.

She opened her mouth.

"Oh... my Lord. I almost forgot to introduce myself." She paused. But couldn’t complete it.

"What’s wrong?" Ard entertained her, while their feet still gliding across the dance floor.

Finally, she managed, "I am... Elara Mur, of House... Mur."

Immediately after, the calm voice of Ard replied.

"I see. I am Ard De Salience."

"I see."

"—Are you not shocked?" she asked, a faint smirk tugging at her lips, waiting for the reaction she was expected.

Ard replied immediately again. "What is there to be shocked about? In the end, humans are all the same, aren’t they? Names don’t matter."

’—Huh...? What is this guy talking about?’ Elara thought, puzzled.

’I can’t wait to finish this. Let’s keep talking to her so I don’t have to switch partners like the others.’ Ard however simply thought noticing some men getting asked to dance by the ladies for the second time, shocking him, ’It’ll be bad if I have to dance with another woman!’

Meanwhile, stunned Elara swallowed discreetly, her emerald gaze fixed on him.

’Does he not know my name or is he just pretending not to know?’ She thought in puzzlement. It made no sense. After all, even the Duke and Duchess were staring daggers at her. Even other nobles watched them closely—not just because they were dancing, but because the pairing was... unusual.

This was because Elara Mur was the younger sister of the fallen Baroness or the deceased wife of also the deceased Demon Lord, Lewis Van Jian, who Ard had killed only a month ago.